This is from a marketing newsletter I receive from Sean at Psychotactics.
It may seem odd to be sharing a marketer’s advice with you, but there are certain similarities in the struggle to get words-that-matter down on the page.
And this article, in particular, spoke to me because so many of those participating in our UnDissertation Discussion Group seem to write quickly and eloquently and well —in their posts. They feel stuck when they sit down to Write Their Dissertation.
So let me share Sean’s advice…
Mini Article 1: How Microwaves Overcome Writer's Block
http://www.psychotactics.com/artwebsite-traffic
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Do you often struggle to write? Well so do I. And there's a reason
why we struggle. We're starting up on a topic cold. And there you
are, staring at the darned computer screen, unable to string two
lines together.
But there's a way out of this quagmire of blankness.
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I call it the microwave method
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Notice how frozen and cold food can be when taken out from the
freezer. Even if you're dying of hunger, you simply can't get at
the food. But about 3 minutes and 23 seconds later, and you've
microwaved so the food is hot and edible.
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So how do you microwave your words?
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First, it's rather important not to sit down to write an article.
Instead go over to a forum and answer some questions. Notice how
eloquent you're on a forum?
You have no problem writing reams of information. The words flow.
The advice gurgles out in big bursts. You don't sit and stare at
the screen forever when you're writing an answer to someone's
question, right?
No you don't. Because you aren't writing an article, that's why.
Your brain doesn't freeze and your language is free-flowing and
not rigid.
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So answer questions on forums
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It doesn't matter who you are, or what you do, there are at least
fifty forums on your topic (yes, even if you deal with in-grown
hangnails).
So go onto those forums, and answer a question in great
detail. Then take the guts of your answer, and re-fashion it into
an article. Now you're not starting cold, and it will be much
easier to write the article at one go.
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Or if you're not much of a forum person...
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Write a blog on topics dear to you. You'll find writing a blog
non-intimidating. Often I'll write in my blog. I'll keep the post
short, because I know it's still in the incubation stage. Over
time, I may add to the blog post, or simply take the post and
re-fashion it into an article.
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Whatever system you use, remember one thing
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The problem with writing isn't because you can't think of ideas.
It's because your brain is frozen. If you've got some blog posts or
forum posts stored away in advance, then it's a matter of putting
that idea in the 'microwave' and heating it up.
And voila, your article is ready to serve!
And the credits please...
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